Special Programs & Services
September 2023
In This Issue
📝Editor's Note📝
The LISD Special Programs Department is excited to welcome our families back into our classrooms. Our team has the honor of serving students in Special Education, Section 504, Homebound and Response to Intervention. We believe that through collaboration with our students, families, staff, and community, the Special Programs Department will support each and every student on their path to a meaningful future by celebrating individual strengths, honoring voice and choice, and building independence.
Each month our team will send a newsletter including ways to support your student at home, links to resources, upcoming family education events and more! Our department also regularly updates our website to provide guidance and resources. We encourage you to utilize our site and newsletters to stay up to date with the latest Special Programs information. We hope that you find the information meaningful as we partner with you to best serve each and every student for the 23-24 school year.
Kimberly Waltmon
Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs & Services
🤳Get Connected🤳
Remind
Our department sends out weekly reminds about Special Programs news and events. If you are not enrolled in a Special Programs Remind class and would like to be, follow the instructions on how to join a Remind class. Here are the class codes for this school year:
- Special Education Elementary: @spedelem23 for parents of students in elementary who have an IEP.
Special Education Secondary: @spedsec23 for parents of students in middle or high school who have an IEP.
Special Programs Autism: @sprogaus23 for parents of students with Autism.
Special Programs 504: @sprog50423 for parents of students who have a 504 plan.
Please remember to turn your notifications on!
Family Education Events
This year we will be continuing to host monthly family education events, parent inspiration (support) groups, and AAC out and abouts. All of our parent and family events are aimed at providing your family with the tools needed to support your student. If you miss a meeting you can always visit the parent meeting archive for asynchronous access to the presentations.
This year we are expanding our family education workshops to include an early morning (11am - 12:30pm) in-person/virtual hybrid option and an evening (6- 7:30pm) virtual option. During these events you will continue to have the opportunity to attend sessions of your choice.
Upcoming Meetings
- Wednesday, September 20th - Parent Inspiration Group
- Wednesday, September 27th - Family Education Workshops
Join The PAC
This school year we are introducing the following committees:
- New Family Outreach: This committee is to provide resources for new to special programs families as they navigate the world of new diagnosis, figuring out how to get connected, and building community
- Family Community Outreach: This committee is to coordinate community events for families to come together
- Student Transition: This committee is to provide feedback and brainstorm ideas to present to the PAC about making the student transition process smoother.
If you are interested in joining the PAC or a committee please sign-up here. We will be sharing out information regarding our general meetings in the upcoming weeks.
📰Have You Heard📰
Roles & Responsibilities
To learn more about more Special Programs & Services resources, visit our interactive Special Programs Handbook.
18+ Services
Are you interested in learning more about 18+ and Transition Services in LISD? Skills for Enhancing Lifelong Fulfillment, commonly referred to as SELF, is one of our 18+ Transition Services. SELF supports our students who receive services in gaining the skills needed for a meaningful, sustainable, and viable life in the community. Our transition team is hosting SELF tours on Oct 19th, Feb 8th, April 9th, and May 7th. During these tours, families will have to opportunity to visit our 18+ classrooms, learn about the various services provided and ask questions. Click here to RSVP for a tour.
National Deaf Awareness Month
September is home to National Deaf Awareness and International Week of Deaf People. Being deaf is the audiological condition of not hearing. We use this time to support and increase awareness of deaf issues, people, and culture. Here are a few ways that your family can support deaf awareness:
- Recognize the achievements of deaf people, including famous deaf individuals.
- Learning ASL, even the basics, shows your family, friends, colleagues, and the community that you value their thoughts and feelings.
- Understand that deaf and HoH individuals are just as capable, able, and intelligent as hearing individuals. While there is a difference between how D/deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) folks communicate. Don’t make assumptions, and treat everyone with compassion and equity.
👩🏫Academic Avenue👩🏫
Reading Corner
Reading with your child daily can help build their listening, thinking, and imagination skills. It can also help increase their vocabulary, promote parent/child communication, and foster environments for you to bond with your child. As you read the story, talk with your child about what is happening. Here are some question to ask:
- What do you think this book will be about? What makes you think this?
- Stop every few pages and discuss what is happening. For fiction texts, ask, "What do you think will happen next?" For nonfiction texts, "What do you think you will learn in this next section?" Be sure to ask your child to explain why.
- Stop every few pages to discuss the main character. Ask these questions: "What do you think (the character) will do next? Why do you think this?" "Why do you think (the character) did that?" "What would you have done if you were (the character)?" "What do the character's actions tell you about him/her?"
Did the book end the way you thought it might? Why or why not?
What was this book mostly about? Is this what you thought it was going to be about when you first picked it up? How did your thinking change?
Why do you think the author wrote this book?
What lesson do you think the author wants us to learn from this book?
Did you enjoy reading this book? Why or why not?
What does this book remind you of in your own life? What other book does it remind you of?
Be sure to share your thinking with your child, too. You are modeling the deep thinking that readers do when they read.
Check out our Supporting Young Readers Monthly Newsletters:
LISD Special Programs & Services
Website: Leander Special Programs & Services
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